Tire chain



Aug. 17 1926. 1,596,299

A. OLSON v TIRE CHAIN Filed Feb. 13, 1925 r l Inventor l6 6 {Z95 ALBERT OLSON Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

Li-Z -T ALBERT o soN, or JAMESTQWN, NEW ORK.

TIRE 0mm.

iApplication filed February This invention relates to'an improvement in tire chains, and more particularly to an iu' provement injthe construction of the cross chains which entend transversely of'the tire. v

The primary objectfof 'this invention is to provide across chain'cons'tru'ction of sub-- stantially Idouble j th'e' width of the vusual cross chain, and-in ,which' a plurality of surface and tire engaging 'po'rtions'are provided which willholdthe vehicle against skidding on an icy roadand which will furish' traction under all onditions.

ifffurtlie'r 'object "f thisinv'ention is to provide a cross" chain,

"engage thef surface f and other oblique por- "tio'ns parallel to each other and to the first set of'por'tionseiigag'jthe tire.

iQt'lier object's of th'is invention will appear from a consideration of the following (tesci'iptiomtaken' in"connection with the drawings which form a part thereof, and in which" y Fig. 1- is a sideelevation ofa' portion ot a tire provided with chain made in accordance' with thisinventijon Fig. 2'is ajbotto'm plan view of the cross chain, which Iforms thisiinvention,[extendedl s to achiotherian'd are oblique to-the'fi're so that they engage 'thesur'tace at 'an'angle. The portions 24g enn-the poruens 26, 27 e'ach function a s'a unit and provide parallel in a, plane; Fig.

, o is a line 3-3of Fig; eyand V 7 Figs. 4.5 a'nd'6 are v ews sim lar to F1gs.

1, 2 and 3 showing'another 0rm of this invention. v 4

2 'Referring to the drawings the reference numeral 10 is employed to designate a tireon which a tire chain made in accordance with this invention is to be mounted. This chain may be of the well known Weed type comprising a pair of side chains 11 at each side of the tire connected by a plurality of cross chains 12 which pass transversely across the tire. lVhile only one such cross chain is showed in the drawing it will be understood that a plurality of such chains is to be provided in accordance with the usual custom. Each cross chain 12 comprises a plurality of identically formed cross links13, each composed of a single length of wire, bent as will be describedhcreinbelow. r

The free ends of the center lengthlt are bent to form loops 15 and 16 and turned once around the length 14 at 17 and 18 and then back upon themselves to form the loops 19 and 20. The free ends of the wire are then the links of which are so. forme'd'that parallel oblique portions lit "QZB pre-terably' triangular'hs in the d-rawiiigs, "are secured to the-loops of; the end links and tothe side chainslli I ii i 13, 1925'. Serial No. 9,000.

brought to th preferablv adiacent, the

length 14, and may there be weldedto form asinglelength 21. The lengths 14 and 21 and the loops 15,16, 19 and are preferably or such dime'nsionthatthe link 13 has substantially'the contour of a rectangle; as indicatedby the dotted lines 22 in'Fi'gs.

2and4.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to'Fig. 2 itwill be noted that each crossxlinl; '18 is connected to the adjoining l nks'at each corner interlacing the- 100 39 "1.5 and 19'andloops 16 and- 20. -i Thus-the links; are held against rotating or piiotiiig and rest substantially smoothly against the tire and Ithe surface. -The cross"c'hains*12 are formed by interlacing a numberot links 13, pointed out, and welding or otherwise oining the adjoining ends of eachhw'ire form th'elen-gths 21. 'Suitable connectors ltwill be noted that each cross link 13 engages the surface of the road at a nu-inber pointsfvi z the "por'tions' 24, 25 torniing each turn 17 and-the portions 26, 27 forming each turn 18. These"portions; are p'arallel obliqueipjortions which w'ill' 'gi'vfe traction, andfin case the surf-ace isicywill cut into the w ice" and prevent side slipping; or j skididinm j i I 'l l eundersides 28 of the loops 15Qand 16 and the length 21 rest against the tireand the only parts in contact with the tire.

Pressure on the portions 24, 25 and 26. 27 tends to straighten the length) 14 which movement, being resisted by the contact or the portions 28 with the tire, causes the imbedding of the portions 28 in the tire.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 4-, 5 and 6 differs from that above described only by reason of the omission of the turns 17 and 18. Hence in place of the road engaging portions 24-, 25 and 26, 27 there are provided the single portions 30 and 31 which connect the loops 15 and 19 and 16 and 20. These portions 30 and 31 are parallel at an angle to the rotation of the wheel and the direction of the car, and their function which is the same as that of the portions 24-,

and 26, 27 in the first embodiment, is reinforced, as .in the first embodiment, by the engagement with the tire of the parallel portions comprising the undersides 28 of the loops 15 and 16 and the length 21.

Hence both embodiments have in common,

the provision of a cross chain made up of a pluralityof substantially rectangular links necessary traction under tonne'cted each corner tothe adjoining linksto prevent twisting or undue shifting relative to the tire when in action. Furthermore, all the portions of the links engaging the surface and engaging the tire are oblique or at an angle to the direction of .movement of the vehicle and are parallel .nate with the tire engaging portions, i. e.:

28 and 21. The road engaging portions are thus yieldingly supported on the lengths 14- and are free from the surface of the tire so that pressure upon the road engaging portions is transmitted at right angles to .the portions 28 and by imbedding them into the surface of the tire at an angle prevents any sllpplng of the chaln relative to the tire. VVhlle this pressure 1s at right angles to the portions 28, it is at an acute angle to the tire and does no injury thereto.

l l 'hile two embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, applicant is not limited thereto, since it is obvious that other embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I. claim as new and for which E desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. in a tire'chain comprising side chains and a plurality of cross chains, links in said cross chains, each of which'links is formed so that it engages the surfaces of the road and of the tire along a plurality of portions parallel to each other and at an oblique angle to the direction of movement of the vehicle.

In a tire chain comprising side chain and a plurality of cross chains, links in said cross chains, each of which links is formed to provide a plurality of parallel portions at an oblique angle to the direction of movement of the vehicle, three of said portions engagii'ig the surface of the tire and other portions engaging the surface of the road, the portions in said second group alternating with the portions in the first group.

In a tire chain comprising side chains and a plurality of cross chains, links in said cross chains, each of which links is formed to provide a plurality of parallel portions at an oblique angle to the direction of more ment of the vehicle which portions engage the road and the tire, the road engaging portions being yieldingly supported by the tire engaging portions above the surface of the tire so pressure thereon is transmitted through the tire engaging portions to the tire at an acute angle.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

ALBERT OLSON. 

